Structure and Physical Properties of EVA/Starch Precursor Materials for Foaming Applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermal behavior and stability of biodegradable spray-dried microparticles containing triamcinolone

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermal analysis of biodegradable microparticles containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride obtained by spray drying technique

Thermal analysis has been extensively used to obtain information about drug-polymer interactions and to perform pre-formulation studies of pharmaceutical dosage forms. In this work, biodegradable microparticles of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CP) in various drug:polymer ratios were obtained by spray drying. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the spray drying process on the drug-polymer interactions and on the stability of microparticles using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The results showed that the high levels of encapsulation efficiency were dependant on drug:polymer ratio. DSC and TG/DTG analyses showed that for physical mixtures of the microparticles components the thermal profiles were different from those signals obtained with the pure substances. Thermal analysis data disclosed that physical interaction between CP and PLGA in high temperatures had occurred. The DSC and TG profiles for drug-loaded microparticles were very similar to the physical mixtures of components and it was possible to characterize the thermal properties of microparticles according to drug content. These data indicated that the spray dryer technique does not affect the physicochemical properties of the microparticles. In addition, the results are in agreement with IR data analysis demonstrating that no significant chemical interaction occurs between CP and PLGA in both physical mixtures and microparticles. In conclusion, we have found that the spray drying procedure used in this work can be a secure methodology to produce CP-loaded microparticles. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal and mechanical behaviour of sisal/phenolic composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dynamic mechanical properties for polyurethane elastomers applied in elastomeric mortar

Dynamic mechanical properties of a polyurethane (PU) elastomer and a mortar processed with the same elastomer (modified polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG)) were studied. The results obtained showed that the liquid aromatic amine ETHACURE (R) 300, used as cure agent, can be used to substitute the aromatic amine MOCA (R), which is usually used as cure agent in high performance elastomers. The resulting mortar produced with ETHACURE (R) 300 presents similar dynamic-mechanical thermal properties when compared with MOCA (R). However, dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis studies showed that the mortar developed with ETHACURE (R) 300 presents some advantages such as the low values of tan d, indicating a good capacity of recovery of the strain after retreating an applied force. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: Effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior

Cellulose nanowhiskers were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis from coconut husk fibers which had previously been submitted to a delignification process. The effects of preparation conditions on the thermal and morphological behavior of the nanocrystals were investigated. Cellulose nanowhisker suspensions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that it was possible to obtain ultrathin cellulose nanowhiskers with diameters as low as 5 nm and aspect ratio of up to 60. A possible correlation between preparation conditions and particle size was not observed. Higher residual lignin content was found to increase thermal stability indicating that by controlling reaction conditions one can tailor the thermal properties of the nanowhiskers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Open photoacoustic cell for thermal diffusivity measurements of a fast hardening cement used in dental restoring

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Exothermic Behavior, Degree of Conversion, and Viscoelastic Properties of Experimental and Commercially Available Hard Chairside Reline Resins

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The influence of UV-C irradiation on the properties of thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone biocomposite with sisal bleached fibers

The effect of UV-C irradiation of the TPS and PCL biocomposites with sisal bleached fibers was investigated. The biocomposite was UV-C irradiated at room temperature under air atmosphere. The structural and morphological changes produced when the films were exposed to UV irradiation for 142 h, were monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Mechanical Tensile Tests, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infra-red analysis (FTIR). Addition of 5-10% fibers in composites exhibited improved mechanical and thermal properties attributed to more efficient dispersibility of fiber in the matrix and good compatibility between fibers and the matrix polymer, however, after irradiated, the tensile properties decreased due to chain scission. The samples of irradiated PCL and IFS showed crystallinity increase, whereas the blend and composites showed a decrease in crystallinity. The DSC and X-ray diffraction studies suggested interaction between polymers in the blend via carboxyl groups in thermoplastic starch-PCL and hydroxyl groups in fibers. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rheological and thermophysical properties of blackberry juice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Gelatinization properties of native starches and their Naegeli dextrins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on some physicochemical properties of root and tuber granular starches

A hidrólise enzimática do amido pode fornecer informações importantes sobre sua estrutura granular. Amidos de mandioca, batata-doce, mandioquinha-salsa e batata foram hidrolisados por α-amilase bacteriana a 37 °C durante 48 horas, e algumas propriedades físico-químicas dos resíduos da hidrólise foram determinadas. O amido de mandioca foi o mais suscetível à enzima com 20,9% de hidrólise, enquanto o amido de batata foi o mais resistente com 5,9%. O tamanho médio dos grânulos variou de 10,8 a 23,4 μm para os amidos de mandioquinha-salsa e batata, respectivamente. Amidos de mandioca e batata-doce apresentaram um padrão de difração de raio-X tipo A, enquanto os amidos de mandioquinha-salsa e batata mostraram padrão tipo B. Todos os amidos nativos mostraram superfície granular lisa e, após hidrólise, os amidos de mandioca, batata-doce e mandioquinha-salsa mostraram alguns grânulos bastante degradados, enquanto o amido de batata apresentou sutil sinal de degradação. O teor de amilose dos amidos diminuiu com a hidrólise para os amidos de mandioca, batata-doce e mandioquinha-salsa, permanecendo inalterado para o amido de batata. Como esperado, a viscosidade intrínseca e as propriedades de pasta diminuíram para todos os amidos hidrolisados. Não houve diferença significativa entre as propriedades térmicas dos amidos nativos e hidrolisados. Estes resultados sugeriram que a hidrólise ocorreu nas áreas cristalinas e amorfas dos grânulos. O padrão de difração do tipo B e o grande tamanho dos grânulos do amido de batata podem ter contribuído para a maior resistência deste amido à hidrólise.

Characterization and thermal behavior of residues from industrial sugarcane processing

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Thermal behavior of cellulose acetate produced from homogeneous acetylation of bacterial cellulose

Cellulose acetate (CA) is one of the most important cellulose derivatives and its main applications are its use in membranes, films, fibers, plastics and filters. CAs are produced from cellulose sources such as: cotton, sugar cane bagasse, wood and others. One promissory source of cellulose is bacterial cellulose (BC). In this work, CA was produced from the homogeneous acetylation reaction of bacterial cellulose. Degree of substitution (DS) values can be controlled by the acetylation time. The characterization of CA samples showed the formation of a heterogeneous structure for CA samples submitted to a short acetylation time. A more homogeneous structure was produced for samples prepared with a long acetylation time. This fact changes the thermal behavior of the CA samples. Thermal characterization revealed that samples submitted to longer acetylation times display higher crystallinity and thermal stability than samples submitted to a short acetylation time. The observation of these characteristics is important for the production of cellulose acetate from this alternative source. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the thermomechanical and electrical properties of conducting composites containing natural rubber and carbon black

This work describes the preparation and characterization of composite materials obtained by the combination of natural rubber (NR) and carbon black (CB) in different percentages, aiming to improve their mechanical properties, processability, and electrical conductivity, aiming future applications as transducer in pressure sensors. The composites NR/CB were characterized through optical microscopy (OM), DC conductivity, thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA), thermogravimetry (TGA), and stress-strain test. The electrical conductivity varied between 10(-9) and 10 S m(-1), depending on the percentage of CB in the composite. Furthermore, a linear (and reversible) dependence of the conductivity on the applied pressure between 0 and 1.6 MPa was observed for the sample with containing 80 wt % of NR and 20% of CB. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.